Woodstock for 1/2/07
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
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silverwings
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:29 pm
- Location: Bethesda, MD
- Contact:
Woodstock for 1/2/07
It's looking like a good day for Woodstock on Tuesday. Any other interested pilots?
john middleton (202)409-2574 c
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hepcat1989
- Posts: 684
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:15 pm
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hepcat1989
- Posts: 684
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:15 pm
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silverwings
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:29 pm
- Location: Bethesda, MD
- Contact:
Ausse PG Pilot Needs Ride to WS
Tom, John, Hugh, etc.,
If you plan to fly at Woodstock, please call visiting Aussie PG pilot David Leith a call at 703-455-3214 and give him the Beta on how to get to Woodstock, et cet. He's staying in Springfield and would appreciiate meeting ups with someone for the ride out to Woodstock.
I have commitments on Tuesday and Karen has to work. RATS!!!!
Thanks,
Matthew
If you plan to fly at Woodstock, please call visiting Aussie PG pilot David Leith a call at 703-455-3214 and give him the Beta on how to get to Woodstock, et cet. He's staying in Springfield and would appreciiate meeting ups with someone for the ride out to Woodstock.
I have commitments on Tuesday and Karen has to work. RATS!!!!
Thanks,
Matthew
Nice day at the 'stock. Not many XCs, but most flew their fill.
Now I solicit double-surface advice.
I flew Daniel's Mark IV for an extendo. I never got back to launch, but I fought hard in some lift at 500 below. I might've even made it in my Falcon, but I really felt uncomfortable how I had to muscle the Mark IV around. I know it should fly like a truck compared to my Falcon, but should it be that big a difference?
I think I'm hanging too far forward. That's probably caused, or made worse, by the fact that I put an extra loop in the hang strap, which appears to push things forward. I seem to fly really fast at trim, and I can push out (with surprisingly high bar pressure) to slow down without any mush.
Turning is taking a surprising amount of muscle. I know it's not gonna react as quickly as a Falcon. And maybe that slow response is causing me to put more effort into turning than is necessary.
On the good side, I'm not PIOing, and I'm launching and landing OK. So, what do you think? Do I just need to fix the hang-point and start hitting the weights?
Dave
Now I solicit double-surface advice.
I flew Daniel's Mark IV for an extendo. I never got back to launch, but I fought hard in some lift at 500 below. I might've even made it in my Falcon, but I really felt uncomfortable how I had to muscle the Mark IV around. I know it should fly like a truck compared to my Falcon, but should it be that big a difference?
I think I'm hanging too far forward. That's probably caused, or made worse, by the fact that I put an extra loop in the hang strap, which appears to push things forward. I seem to fly really fast at trim, and I can push out (with surprisingly high bar pressure) to slow down without any mush.
Turning is taking a surprising amount of muscle. I know it's not gonna react as quickly as a Falcon. And maybe that slow response is causing me to put more effort into turning than is necessary.
On the good side, I'm not PIOing, and I'm launching and landing OK. So, what do you think? Do I just need to fix the hang-point and start hitting the weights?
Dave
David Bodner
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theflyingdude
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:40 pm
- Location: Cumberland, MD
Landing on a tree
This is my first ever post at the forum. Hope it works. Sorry for the length -- I copied it from the EM I sent last night to the PG folks.
Here we go:
I managed to talk Magda, my wife, into coming out to fly with me at WS. Because I wanted to make sure the conditions are not too strong for her, we arrived at 1:30 pm. By then Hugh and David (from Australia) spent an hour in the air getting as high as 1800 over. First, we waited for three HGs to get in the air, then Magda launched, then me (John Middleton helped when my lines got stuck in the rocks at the first attempt, many thanks). It was 2;10 by the time I launched, and just before I saw Hugh and David sink out. We both gained about 500 over launch -- Magda over the valley and I closer to the ridge. Magda sunk out, and a lot of HGs also sunk out. After about 25 minutes I sunk out, too. We packed, and Magda got a ride up, to bring our car down. Hugh helped her to find the way back to the LZ. Meanwhile, I saw John Middleton launching with a PG, and he went nicely up, so conditions started to look better. A couple of HGs also launched, and were also gaining altitude.
We got back to launch at 3:50. John Middleton landed. Ellis was there at launch, she just arrived, and heard from Hugh that we are coming up (Hugh and David left). Ellis launched first, and stayed up. Then Magda launched, but she had trouble catching lift, did not want to stick close to the ridge (despite my helpful advice over the radio), and slowly started to sink. By the time it was my turn to launch (at about 4:05), the wind was almost completely gone. I switched to forward launch, and after some failed half-attempts managed to take off alright. I was desperate to catch Magda before she completely sinks out. Well, I did not succeed -- she was already above the LZ and about to land by then, and I believe Ellis was going to the LZ to land, too. There were still three HGs in the air, I believe -- Mark Cavanough, Tom McGowan, and Nelson Lewis.
I started scraping very close to the trees, catching tiny lift and moving sideways without losing much altitude. Made two turns around launch, then moved to the right (toward Strasbourg), hoping that the sun hits the slope at a better angle there. Started to gain in very weak lift. I was getting closer to the top of the ridge, when suddenly I hit sink. I hit a tree top before I could make a left turn. The glider surged forward, I pulled the brakes, glider went back over my head, but then I hit the next tree top. I knew right away that this is too much, lifted my leg and crossed my arms in front of my face. I flew into the branches at a fairly slow speed, and came to a stop, hanging about three yards from the trunk of a tree, and about 30 feet from the ground. Grabbed some branches and pulled myself closer to the trunk, slowly, inch by inch, watching whether the branches holding the glider will break or not. Luckily the branches held, and I managed to grab the trunk, first with my legs, then with my hands. Called Magda on the radio to say I am ok. At the LZ, Ellis noticed what happened, and Mark and Tom also saw it from the air. They landed and put together a rescue party (with Pete Lehmann joining/leading).
After being secure standing on a tree trunk, I started to unbuckle my harness, while also pulling on some of the lines so the glider gets less stuck on the tree. I figured if I leave the harness hanging on one side of the lines, we might be able to reach it with a long stick from the ground. When I let go of the harness, it swung away, and actually pulled part of the glider down, hanging at about 15 feet over the ground. At that point Nelson Lewis passed overhead, and suggested that I stay on the tree (he yelled something like "stay on the f...ing tree!!!"). I was pretty confident, however, that I could climb down with very little risk. After about five minutes of monkeying, I was safely on the ground. Checked myself -- not a scratch. So far, so good.
The rescue party arrived within about five minutes. Pete got his ropes out and started to throw it in a bundle toward the harness. He managed to loop it over several times (seems like he is a natural cowboy), but we could not grab the other half of the line. Tom and Mark then started to poke the harness with a really long branch, and after a while pulled the other part of Pete's line down. We then pulled the harness down, and then pulled the glider down. We got back to the parking lot at launch just when it started to get dark.
At home I examined the glider. No line break, but a 20 inch rip at the lower side of the glider, around the middle. Exactly along the stitches. I glued it together. Will see how it holds. Seems like a small price to pay for a stupid mistake.
Lesson: the trees need more clearance, otherwise they grab you.
Many, many thanks to the impressive rescue party.
Cheers,
Laszlo
Here we go:
I managed to talk Magda, my wife, into coming out to fly with me at WS. Because I wanted to make sure the conditions are not too strong for her, we arrived at 1:30 pm. By then Hugh and David (from Australia) spent an hour in the air getting as high as 1800 over. First, we waited for three HGs to get in the air, then Magda launched, then me (John Middleton helped when my lines got stuck in the rocks at the first attempt, many thanks). It was 2;10 by the time I launched, and just before I saw Hugh and David sink out. We both gained about 500 over launch -- Magda over the valley and I closer to the ridge. Magda sunk out, and a lot of HGs also sunk out. After about 25 minutes I sunk out, too. We packed, and Magda got a ride up, to bring our car down. Hugh helped her to find the way back to the LZ. Meanwhile, I saw John Middleton launching with a PG, and he went nicely up, so conditions started to look better. A couple of HGs also launched, and were also gaining altitude.
We got back to launch at 3:50. John Middleton landed. Ellis was there at launch, she just arrived, and heard from Hugh that we are coming up (Hugh and David left). Ellis launched first, and stayed up. Then Magda launched, but she had trouble catching lift, did not want to stick close to the ridge (despite my helpful advice over the radio), and slowly started to sink. By the time it was my turn to launch (at about 4:05), the wind was almost completely gone. I switched to forward launch, and after some failed half-attempts managed to take off alright. I was desperate to catch Magda before she completely sinks out. Well, I did not succeed -- she was already above the LZ and about to land by then, and I believe Ellis was going to the LZ to land, too. There were still three HGs in the air, I believe -- Mark Cavanough, Tom McGowan, and Nelson Lewis.
I started scraping very close to the trees, catching tiny lift and moving sideways without losing much altitude. Made two turns around launch, then moved to the right (toward Strasbourg), hoping that the sun hits the slope at a better angle there. Started to gain in very weak lift. I was getting closer to the top of the ridge, when suddenly I hit sink. I hit a tree top before I could make a left turn. The glider surged forward, I pulled the brakes, glider went back over my head, but then I hit the next tree top. I knew right away that this is too much, lifted my leg and crossed my arms in front of my face. I flew into the branches at a fairly slow speed, and came to a stop, hanging about three yards from the trunk of a tree, and about 30 feet from the ground. Grabbed some branches and pulled myself closer to the trunk, slowly, inch by inch, watching whether the branches holding the glider will break or not. Luckily the branches held, and I managed to grab the trunk, first with my legs, then with my hands. Called Magda on the radio to say I am ok. At the LZ, Ellis noticed what happened, and Mark and Tom also saw it from the air. They landed and put together a rescue party (with Pete Lehmann joining/leading).
After being secure standing on a tree trunk, I started to unbuckle my harness, while also pulling on some of the lines so the glider gets less stuck on the tree. I figured if I leave the harness hanging on one side of the lines, we might be able to reach it with a long stick from the ground. When I let go of the harness, it swung away, and actually pulled part of the glider down, hanging at about 15 feet over the ground. At that point Nelson Lewis passed overhead, and suggested that I stay on the tree (he yelled something like "stay on the f...ing tree!!!"). I was pretty confident, however, that I could climb down with very little risk. After about five minutes of monkeying, I was safely on the ground. Checked myself -- not a scratch. So far, so good.
The rescue party arrived within about five minutes. Pete got his ropes out and started to throw it in a bundle toward the harness. He managed to loop it over several times (seems like he is a natural cowboy), but we could not grab the other half of the line. Tom and Mark then started to poke the harness with a really long branch, and after a while pulled the other part of Pete's line down. We then pulled the harness down, and then pulled the glider down. We got back to the parking lot at launch just when it started to get dark.
At home I examined the glider. No line break, but a 20 inch rip at the lower side of the glider, around the middle. Exactly along the stitches. I glued it together. Will see how it holds. Seems like a small price to pay for a stupid mistake.
Lesson: the trees need more clearance, otherwise they grab you.
Many, many thanks to the impressive rescue party.
Cheers,
Laszlo
Statiscally Nelson's advice is good - it's very hard to judge how easy it is to climb down a tree from above. Glad you came out safely, though if it took 5 minutes it couldn't have been that easy. Hell, it only took me about 10 seconds to come out of a higher tree without nearly as happy an ending.
Dave - is the Mark 4 the right size for you? Dan's a bit bigger.
Dave - is the Mark 4 the right size for you? Dan's a bit bigger.
Brian Vant-Hull
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pink_albatross
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:20 pm
- Location: Ellis from Arlington
Woodstock was nice to me. Many thanks to Laszlo who helped lay out my wing and helped me launch in record time. Got 20 minutes and maybe 200 over. Was late in the day, the wind shifted to SW and I lost concentration and my little chance at staying up a little longer.
Small correction to Laszlo's post: I saw the wing in the trees after the fact. Tom did see the whole thing and packed up Pete Schuhman, Magda and me and drove us all back up the mountain.
When I got to the accident site, Laszlo, Magda, Tom and Pete were busy trying to rope the harness, while Nelson was flying back and forth overhead, screaming "Don't cut any trees!"
Glad, Laszlo is okay.
Small correction to Laszlo's post: I saw the wing in the trees after the fact. Tom did see the whole thing and packed up Pete Schuhman, Magda and me and drove us all back up the mountain.
When I got to the accident site, Laszlo, Magda, Tom and Pete were busy trying to rope the harness, while Nelson was flying back and forth overhead, screaming "Don't cut any trees!"
Glad, Laszlo is okay.
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Flying Lobster
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2005 4:17 pm
Status check
I wanted to find out whether my glider and I are both OK (physically and mentally, in that order). After flying over Daniels for two hours this afternoon, everything seems to be in good order.
Laszlo
PS. Mark, thanks for the advice. I know that one flight does not prove that the glider is intact. I recognize that soon I will need to get the cell repaired professionally. Fred and Noah both gave me good contacts.
Laszlo
PS. Mark, thanks for the advice. I know that one flight does not prove that the glider is intact. I recognize that soon I will need to get the cell repaired professionally. Fred and Noah both gave me good contacts.
WS
Shawn,
Thanks for the "observ" ....I flew for minute or two over an hour,
reached about 1700' over ... and being a "2" It really pays off to
watch the more experienced pilots and learn their tricks......
BTW, Lazlo wasn't the only person to eat wood ...???...
all in all, an excellent day....
'til then, Mike
Thanks for the "observ" ....I flew for minute or two over an hour,
reached about 1700' over ... and being a "2" It really pays off to
watch the more experienced pilots and learn their tricks......
BTW, Lazlo wasn't the only person to eat wood ...???...
all in all, an excellent day....
'til then, Mike
Mike Lee
How 'Bout That
How 'Bout That
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hepcat1989
- Posts: 684
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:15 pm
I arrived there at 11:30 to meet up with Mike L. and Rhonda in the LZ.
We then rode up together to see Janni up and ready. I helped him off and he went up and to the right..... I then helped Mike off. He was up and out and having a good flight. I then was asked by the new Australian PG pilot Dave?, is that right?, to take some shots for him.I managed to find a spot and set up. Lots of pilots there.....I was in the flight line behind David Bodner.John M. was kind enough to give me a hang check. Thanks.
I self launched into smooth 5-8 mph. Had to wait a little for some straight ones. I enjoyed the view. I was able to stay up for around 35 mins 600 over until I was below ridge level and had to go out and land with cows .. (plenty of room) Good approach, good landing.
I need to fly there more. Fun....
Peace, Shawn.
We then rode up together to see Janni up and ready. I helped him off and he went up and to the right..... I then helped Mike off. He was up and out and having a good flight. I then was asked by the new Australian PG pilot Dave?, is that right?, to take some shots for him.I managed to find a spot and set up. Lots of pilots there.....I was in the flight line behind David Bodner.John M. was kind enough to give me a hang check. Thanks.
I self launched into smooth 5-8 mph. Had to wait a little for some straight ones. I enjoyed the view. I was able to stay up for around 35 mins 600 over until I was below ridge level and had to go out and land with cows .. (plenty of room) Good approach, good landing.
I need to fly there more. Fun....
Peace, Shawn.
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Danny Brotto
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:29 pm
I too flew the Massanutten on Tuesday although it was seated instead of prone and encased in fiberglass instead of Dacron. I flew sailplanes out of Front Royal airport and find the reported light conditions at Woodstock surprising given the conditions just 12 or so miles to the north-ease. I launched in a 2 place Grob 103 at about 10:30 am into what I estimate NW winds of 10 to 20 knots at ridgetop near where the ridge ends at Strausburg. Towing to 3000 ft AGL we contacted rotor climbing 1000 feet and then contacting wave to about 6500 ft. I would estimate the winds at altitude to have been about 25 to 30 knots. On the way down after an hour, there was still enough wind at ridgetop to cause notable drift. The second flight at about 2:30 in an ASK 21, the wind velocity seemed just a bit weaker but the wave was more solid. We achieved about 8500 ft and cruised down the valley almost to Woodstock. I could see a number of gliders (HG & PG) down on the ridge soaring. It’s surprising that the wind was much lighter down there than I could have guessed it to be.
Back at the airport later that eveing, I watched Hugh launch off in his trike with Aussie Dave. Hugh’s aircraft is a very nice example of a trike. He returned and took Rhonda for a late day circuit in diminishing sunlight. I’m hoping she enjoyed herself.
Danny Brotto
Back at the airport later that eveing, I watched Hugh launch off in his trike with Aussie Dave. Hugh’s aircraft is a very nice example of a trike. He returned and took Rhonda for a late day circuit in diminishing sunlight. I’m hoping she enjoyed herself.
Danny Brotto
Hi, Danny. Sorry we didn't get to chat more. Thanks for the compliments on the trike. We got a hell of a deal (trailer came with it, too). It will be "N" numbered soon. We went high-end with the helmets/intercomm/radio interface, which makes a huge difference. Looking forward to the warm season. Maybe we can trade rides sometime. - Hugh
Laszlo,
Congratulations on getting right back on the horse that threw ya! My suggestion was that if anyone was flying Daniel's yesterday, they could give Dave Leith a call (his in-laws' number is at the top of this string) - but I understand if you were rushing to get away from work and out to Daniel's. I was not a candidate to go - gotta work SOMEtime... Hugh
Congratulations on getting right back on the horse that threw ya! My suggestion was that if anyone was flying Daniel's yesterday, they could give Dave Leith a call (his in-laws' number is at the top of this string) - but I understand if you were rushing to get away from work and out to Daniel's. I was not a candidate to go - gotta work SOMEtime... Hugh